Two sentenced in attic meth lab case

Published 7:00 am, Thursday, February 13, 2014

Two of three people who were involved in making methamphetamine in the attic of a Midland apartment building have been sentenced, and the third has entered a plea.

Victor Joseph Kelsey, 20, and Kristen Kay Fast, 22, both appeared before Midland County Circuit Court Judge Stephen P. Carras to be sentenced on a misdemeanor charge of use of meth. Both originally faced a charge of operating a meth lab, which was dismissed after their guilty plea to the misdemeanor count.

Carras, after hearing that Kelsey has enrolled in college courses and Fast is receiving substance abuse treatment, admonished both for their role in the crime.

The judge told Kelsey he’s young and “accumulating a record by doing dumb things,” after Midland County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Angelina Scarpelli noted Kelsey has a juvenile record and bench warrants, and he was somewhat uncooperative in his presentencing interview with Department of Corrections staff.

Kelsey’s attorney, Robert J. Dunn of Bay City, said his client was associated with people who were interested in making meth and was asked to purchase pills that contain a main ingredient. The 90 days he was in jail before making a plea in the case provided him time to think about who he chooses as friends, Dunn added.

Fast, represented by attorney Lisa Blanton of Midland, apologized for her actions and said she is living with her mother and assured Carras she would test negative for drug use.

Scarpelli said Fast has a very real drug problem, having been charged with drug possession in three other counties.

“You’ve dug quite a hole for yourself,” Carras told Fast, adding a large part of the problem is the people she associated with.

Carras sentenced Kelsey and Fast to two years of probation. Fast served nearly as much time in jail as Kelsey did.

The third defendant in the case, Daryl Lee Ullom, 28, pled guilty to maintaining or operating a meth lab as well as habitual fourth offender status, admitting he was the “cook,” or person making the drug, said Midland County Prosecutor Erik S.H. Wallen. The habitual fourth offender status raises the maximum penalty in the case to up to life in prison, and Wallen said the minimum sentence guidelines in Ullom’s case are 50 months in prison.

The meth lab — consisting of a 1-liter pop bottle — was found in the attic of an apartment at the Village of Joseph’s Run on July 10 by a man who was staying there. He called police, who in turn called the Bay Area Narcotics Enforcement Team.

Ullom is being represented by attorney Lee Burton of Midland. He is scheduled to be sentenced on Feb. 28.